Research Interests
Physiology and ecology of vertebrates, especially
amphibians and reptiles. Current interests in cardiovascular
adaptations, gravitational physiology, functional morphology of
integument, water balance and distribution of sea snakes, comparative
aspects of energetics and temperature regulation, animal coloration,
and fire ecology. I also have long-term studies in progress relating to
the physiology and ecology of insular cottonmouth snakes.
Representative Publications
2013. LILLYWHITE, H.B. Climate change and reptiles. Pp. 279–294
In: K. Rohde (ed.), The Balance of Nature and Human Impact,
Cambridge University Press.
2013. BRISCHOUX, F., R. TINGLEY, R. SHINE and H.B. LILLYWHITE.
Behavioral and physiological correlates of the geographic distributions of
amphibious sea kraits (Laticauda spp.). Journal of Sea
Research 76:1–4.
2012. BRISCHOUX, F., R. TINGLEY, R. SHINE and H.B. LILLYWHITE.
Salinity influences the distribution of marine snakes: Implications for
evolutionary transitions to marine life. Ecography 35:994–1003.
2012. LILLYWHITE, H.B., J.S. ALBERT, C.M. SHEEHY III and R.S.
SEYMOUR. Gravity and the evolution of cardiopulmonary morphology in snakes.
Comp. Biochem. Physiol. Part A 161:230–242.
2012. LILLYWHITE, H.B., F. BRISCHOUX, C.M. SHEEHY III, and J.B.
PFALLER. Dehydration and drinking responses in a pelagic sea snake.
Integrative and Comparative Biology 52:227–234.
2012. SAVITZKY, A.H., A. MORI, D.A. HUTCHINSON, R.A. SAPORITO, G.M.
BURGHARDT, H.B. LILLYWHITE and J. MEINWALD. Sequestered defensive
toxins in tetrapod vertebrates: Principles, patterns, and prospects for
future studies. Chemoecology 22:141–158.
2012. LILLYWHITE, H.B., J.S. ALBERT, C.M. SHEEHY III and R.S.
SEYMOUR. Gravity and the evolution of cardiopulmonary morphology in
snakes. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. Part A 161:230-242.
2012. LILLYWHITE, H.B. and F. BRISCHOUX. Is it better in the
moonlight? Nocturnal activity of insular cottonmouth snakes increases with
lunar light levels. J. Zool. 286: 194–199. Published online 2011
(doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7998.2011.00866.x)
2011. BRISCHOUX, F. and H.B. LILLYWHITE. Light- and flotsam-
dependent ‘float-and-wait’ foraging by pelagic sea snakes (Pelamis
platurus). Marine Biology 158:2343-2347.
2011. LILLYWHITE, H.B. and M.-C. TU. Abundance of sea kraits
correlates with precipitation. PLoS ONE Vol. 6, e28556
(http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0028556)
2010. LIU, Y.L., H.B. LILLYWHITE and M.C. TU. Sea snakes
anticipate tropical cyclone. Marine Biology 157:2369-2373.
2009. LILLYWHITE, H.B., J.G. Menon, G.K. Menon, C.M. Sheehy III,
and M.-C. TU. Water exchange and permeability properties of the skin in
three species of amphibious sea snakes (Laticauda spp.). J. Exp.
Biol. 212:1921-1929.
2009. LILLYWHITE, H. Physiological ecology: Field methods and
perspective. Chapter 20 In K. Dodd (ed.), Amphibian Ecology and
Conservation. A Handbook of Techniques., pp. 363–386. Oxford
University Press series in Techniques in Ecology and Conservation.
2008. LILLYWHITE, H.B., L.S. BABONIS, C.M. SHEEHY III, and M.-C.
TU. Sea snakes (Laticauda spp.) require fresh drinking water:
Implication for the distribution and persistence of populations.
Physiol. Biochem. Zool. 81:785-796.
2008. LILLYWHITE, H.B., C.M. SHEEHY III, and F.ZAIDAN III.
Pitviper scavenging at the intertidal zone: An evolutionary scenario for
invasion of the sea. BioScience 58:947-955.
2008. LILLYWHITE, H.B. and R.J.R. McCLEARY. Trophic ecology of
insular cottonmouth snakes: Review and perspective. South Amer. J.
Herpetol. 3:175-185.
2008. CONKLIN, D.J., H.B. LILLYWHITE, B. BISHOP, A. HARGENS and
K. OLSON. Rythmic contractility in the hepatic portal
“corkscrew” vein of the rat snake. Comparative Biochemistry
and Physiology, part A 152:389-397.
2008. LILLYWHITE, H. and J. ALBERT. Evolutionary physiology,
comparative data, and phylogenetic methods. Pp. 613-620 in S.
Morris, A. Vosloo (eds.) 4th CBP Meeting in Africa: MARA 2008,
“Molecules to Migration: The Pressures of Life.” International
Proceedings, Medimond S.r.l. Monduzzi Editore International, Bologna,
Italy.
2008. LILLYWHITE, H.B. Dictionary of Herpetology. Krieger
Publishing Inc., Malabar, Florida. 376 pp. (“Outstanding Academic
Title” in 2008)